Charges filed against driver in south Columbia collision

UPDATE: Charges have been filed by the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office against Michael Wills, the driver in Wednesday’s collision in south Columbia. The charges include two counts of assault for causing injury while driving a vehicle while intoxicated, resisting arrest, and driving with a revoked or suspended license.

ORIGINAL STORY:The three people involved in a crash during a chase Wednesday morning are recovering at a hospital.

Law enforcement authorities say Michael C. Wills, 24, led them on a chase through parts of Boone County and south Columbia before crashing into a second vehicle.Authorities tried to Wills over because of speeding; at one point, they set out spike strips, but the truck managed to drive around them. Later, while apparently driving the wrong way on Providence Road near Nifong Boulevard, Wills’ truck hit a car which had swerved off the road to avoid the truck.

Wills and his passenger, Candice Ward, were hospitalized with moderate injuries – at last check, they were in fair condition. The driver of the second vehicle, Cory Via, got serious injuries, and was last known to be in serious condition.

Wills pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended or no license back in March. He also pleaded guilty to domestic assault and assaulting an officer back in 2011, he was also sentenced to six months in jail after violating his probation for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana in 2015.